More than three hundred girls from schools in the central and southern regions of Mozambique were recently trained in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), within the context of the “Code Like a Girl” program, carried out by the mobile phone company Vodacom Mozambique.
According to a statement from the operator, the objective of “Code Like a Girl”, which this time took place outside Vodacom's headquarters, is to reach schools directly and guarantee greater coverage of young people living in non-urban areas, offering them the same development opportunities.
“We realized from the trained girls that there is a lot of capacity for rapid assimilation and that it is the best thing we have to do, if we want to accelerate the integration of women in the areas of STEM and ICTs, in particular”, said Kátia Meggy, director of Resources Vodacom Humans.
Since the program launched in 2016, this is the first time that Code Like a Girl has taken place outside the company's office. In these locations, the recipients are students from schools where the Vodacom Faz Crescer Program is underway, an action through which the operator offers computers and free internet and promotes digital inclusion and literacy.
BUT: [Mozambique] “Girl Move Academy” launches second edition to stimulate the talent of young women
In each educational establishment, 40 girls were selected who started the program without knowing how to use a computer, however, after intensive training, they managed to create a basic website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
For the success of this initiative, Vodacom counted on the involvement of some development communities, namely MozDevz, Maputo Frontenders and WansatiLab, which mobilized more than 22 volunteers, who went to all the schools where the project was carried out.
As part of Code Like a Girl, 717 girls have been trained nationwide to date. The objective of this program is to bring technology to more girls in the country.
Aimed at girls aged between 14 and 18, the project aims to develop skills in programming subjects, as well as exposing them to careers in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
